Change in HAL Activity Policy

[JJinVista]

My wife and I have cruised HAL around a dozen times over the past 10 years. One of the things that kept us going back was the daytime activities which were oriented at small groups.

Lounge-situated games like Name That Tune.

Guys vs Gals in Battle of the Sexes where guys are asked "girl-knowledge " questions and vice versa.

Table games like Pictionary, Taboo, Scattegories, Cranium, and others.

Icebreaker game of guess who's Mr. and Mrs. *****dam

 

We found that participating in these activities gave us the opportunity to meet many other fellow passengers.

 

After convincing our friends to go along on an Oosterdam cruise to Mexico last fall, we were disappointed to see a change in the HAL activity policy. A recent trip this spring on a circle Hawaii cruise (Zaandam 4/3/2008) confirmed this change. NONE of the activities I've listed above were held on either of our last two HAL cruises (a total of 22 days, 14 of them "at-sea" days). On the last 15 day cruise, not one volleyball or shuffleboard event was held.

 

Now I'm aware of the older demographic on HAL. But we had a lady in her golden years bugging the activities guy to organize a volleyball event. She said she played several hours each day at home!

 

In speaking with the activities director, he said there was a change in policy at HAL. They would no longer do what he called the 'small venue' games. Instead, they would be oriented more toward games where only a few people participated, and the audience would watch. Such as:

American Idol - a takeoff on the TV show. Held in the large theatre. Passengers sing kareoke in front of a panel of 3 HAL-chosen reps (usually one of the entertainers, dancers, crew).

Poolside games where everyone watches a few participants.

Quiz-show games, where 3 contestants participate and (you guessed it) everyone watches.

 

To be fair, they did have two regular trivia competitions each day. But overall, the new policy was more like watching TV than participating in activities.

 

We also noticed an increase in fee-based activities. $30 / head to have their info-systems guy give you pointers on word processing. Bartender-run classes which teach you how to mix drinks - we dropped by two of these but they were each canceled due to lack of interest.

 

We liked the activities crew, don't get me wrong. They were very friendly, outgoing, and fun. But the new policy is flawed.

 

We're looking at other cruise lines for our next vacation.

[jhannah]

We enjoy those games, too. However, I would be willing to bet we're in the minority. Probably so few showed up on a regular basis that it became more scheduling trouble for the staff than it was worth.

[fann1sh]

I've also noticed the lack of opportunities to play Scattergories, Pictionary, and other games. I thought it might have been due to my last couple sailings being only 7 days. I'm sorry to hear it's fleet wide and permanent.

 

I'm not looking for a Carnival or RCCL experience when I cruise HAL. But, I'm not a sunbather, either. Thankfully, team trivia and the daily quiz are still fixtures. I can (and do!) read anything, anywhere, so this is not a "special" cruise experience. What is everyone doing on their sea days?:confused:

[hammybee]

We enjoy those games, too. However, I would be willing to bet we're in the minority. Probably so few showed up on a regular basis that it became more scheduling trouble for the staff than it was worth.

 

You have got this right. If I had a $1.00 for every event where I was the one and only to show, well, it might cover a drink. :)

 

My sense is most passengers do not board cruise ships to play games they could play at home. No doubt about it, the passive participation events tend to draw big audiances, especially on 7-10 day sails. The biggest change, over time, is the passenger.

 

No doubt, someone, somewhere is trying to figure out if they can pull in enough game players to charter a ship.

[kryos]

You have got this right. If I had a $1.00 for every event where I was the one and only to show, well, it might cover a drink. :)

I think the activities held should be based on the particular cruise ... number of days, itinerary, days at sea, etc.

 

I can well imagine that people on a seven to ten day cruise with a lot of ports don't go onboard to play games and could care less about showing up for them. They probably will do some of the "dam dollars" things ... because they are good exercise, but that's about it.

 

I just hope, though, that on the longer cruises where there are loads of sea days that they still hold the small venue activities where everyone can participate. Yes, it's fun sometimes to be an observer, but there are times that you'd like to play too. The game where only a few people participate don't really give you the feeling that you did much that day. You might as well just go to a lecture.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Juanita462]

On our last cruise all games were well attended - trivia drew an overflow crowd that completely filled the ocean bar with tables in the middle of the floor. There were less at the other games but I think that was because it was port intensive.

 

We cruised to Hawaii last year and there were no activities except one trivia most days and one sporting event. We had over 300 people show up for each event since there was nothing else to do and there were 10 sea days. It took forever to get through the single event. We wrote to HAL asking if this was to be the new policy and they replied that there were many things to do - listing all the paid for activities.

 

If this is their new policy we will be thinking about cancelling the cruises we have booked and looking at another line. I can't believe they would

go to a spectator type activity - well, non-activity for the pax. We like to read, but not all day, every day. How disappointing.

[JJinVista]

You have got this right. If I had a $1.00 for every event where I was the one and only to show, well, it might cover a drink. :)

 

My sense is most passengers do not board cruise ships to play games they could play at home.

 

My wife and I tried playing some of these games at home, but with not much luck. We'd always guess the secret passenger, and she already knows the names of all of the songs I can play on the piano. :D

 

But seriously - The activities director told me their change in policy was because they often couldn't accommodate the number of people who showed up.

 

And fewer events with more passengers per event allows them to cut back on staff.

[Taxguy77]

Sorry to hear about this change in policy, as we like several games. We noticed a lack of activities on a TA aboard Celebrity 2 years ago, also. :confused:

[fann1sh]

My wife and I tried playing some of these games at home, but with not much luck. We'd always guess the secret passenger, and she already knows the names of all of the songs I can play on the piano. :D

 

<g> <g> <g>

 

Exactly why I love those games at sea! And, as already pointed out, they make a great mixer to meet new people.

 

I've had Hammybee's experience of being the only one who shows up, but I've also seen what you've described...too many people to be accommodated. But I've got a sense we're all just...well, I had a graphic for this, but it was too big...flogging a dead horse.

[kakalina]

As one who greatly enjoys the "smaller venue" games I will be very disappointed if they go the way of the Java Cafe. I attend as many as I can fit in a day, as Juanita so succintly put it "you can only read so much".

On our last cruise they were trying to get up a "list" of game players so you could match up those that wanted to get together and play games without staff present.

[wizard-of-roz]

Very few games; very few announcements; not much interaction with the crew; everything seemed to be scaled down to "your on your own!"

Not that we minded....we liked it! Although, I do enjoy intermingling with other guests....Bingo and Trivia were well attended High Tea was not so big! It was well done but not too many guests attended.

The talent night was very well attended as were the shows.

This was on the Oosterdam, in April.

[ctsally]

It would be a shame if HAL discontinues the small venue games (e.g. Scattergories, Pictionary, etc.) for that is a delightful way to make new friends, enjoy some laughs, and have a friendly competition. Sitting like a potted plant watching three or four others on stage participating in a "game" is not for me. I enjoy the interaction with fellow passengers. That's how I've met so many wonderful people!

[hammybee]

Statendam 1959

[Juanita462]

You are so right - the games make it possible to meet lots of people and make friends. On our 50 day cruise in 06 about a hundred of us followed all the sporting events and became friends. There was always someone to eat with, stop for a chat etc. and even on the flight home we continued the interaction and exchanged many email addresses. We have such happy memories of the camaraderie we experienced on that cruise.

 

I can't see making friends by sitting and watching a few people do something.

[savannahgirl1]

You know on our last cruise in March on the Volendam our sea days had several of these types of games all day. :confused: We never went to them so I can''t say what the attendance was like, but looking back at our daily activity sheets there are several listed at several times. There was also a large # of pool side games. They had basketball shoot offs, ping pong tournys, and a lot of other stuff. We had keriokee (sp) a couple of times. Line dancing lessons a couple days. I guess it just depends on the crew on how many of these types of events they have. :rolleyes:

[SDHALFAN]

Sailing as a "singleton", I too find that the best way to meet new people and make new friends is by participating in the games; although I gave up Scattergories several years ago because that particular game seems to attract truly cutthroat players (hey, we're competing for a luggage tag here, not a free cruise, okay?:D ).

 

I am a trivia nut especially since I have a brain that doesn't work that well on a day-to-day basis but somehow manages to store the most obscure facts - it's a disorder that I can live with;) .

 

I tend to take the longer cruises (yes, I'm retired and am spending my beloved, but deceased, husband's life insurance money, just as I threatened him that I would) and I can't imagine spending so many sea days with nothing, other than Team Trivia, offered unless I am willing to pay to play. Heck, I could, and probably would, just throw that money down the tubes (slots) at the Casino.

 

I used to make friends in the smoking section by the Lido Pool (we pariahs tend to hang out together since no-one else loves us:rolleyes: ) but HAL did away with the smoking section and I quit smoking so that's out. Where's a girl (okay, Old Bag) to go to find friends?

 

Valerie:)

[cruisinjudy]

I, too, miss those activities, but I don't find them on Celebrity either.

[sassyredhat]

Everything all of you said is true of our latest cruise 4/3/08 to Hawaii. :(

 

I have never seen so many "readers" in my life !!

 

Couldn't fit everyone in the Crow's Nest for Trivia.

 

Give me the "small venue" games any day !!!!!

 

Pat

[leoandhugh]

Those of you who said that it enabled them to cut back on the Cruise Director's staff hit the nail on the head. On recent cruises, when the CD brings his staff up on stage to introduce them to the passengers - 4 instead of 8 - and they have the DJs from the disco, running games and pool activities. It doesn't bother us because we have never been game participants (except Trivia), but I understand those who really miss such activities. Bottom line - cut wherever they can to cut costs.:) :)

[pipedreams62]

A little game of Operation

 

 

This could be a real challenge on a rolling ship

[bepsf]

...if you're not spending money, the line isn't making money.

 

Get ready for more of this across the board...

[fann1sh]

Well, then, I for one would pay a fee to play small venue games. (Any chance the HAL board browsers are reading this thread?)

 

Otherwise, it would be great to have the activities director start a "game player's sign up sheet" for like minded folks to do our own thing....but, unless it's in the daily paper, who's going to know about that? :(

[KKMKEM]

Princess still has small venue activities.

[wizard-of-roz]

Exactly the reason we chose Princess for our 14 nights to Hawaii...on those sea days, I'm filling in time with going to pottery class! :)

[Hoyaheel]

Exactly the reason we chose Princess for our 14 nights to Hawaii...on those sea days, I'm filling in time with going to pottery class! :)

Is that free or fee?? On Princess last summer, seemed there were lots of activities but many were fee-based.....